At Dawn We Slept: The Untold Story of Pearl Harbor by Gordon W. Prange with Donald M. Goldstein and Katherine V. Dillon
1981/753pg (reading)

Like many readers, I have a stack of books with bookmarks in various places reminding me that I started reading and then neglected finishing for various reason. As some readers will attest…some of these books will never get finished. However, a few, haunt your dreams. When you finish another book, the ghost of those started in the past cry for you to pick them up and allow them to continue on the adventure that you stopped many years ago.

18 years it has taken me to finish this novel. If you have followed this blog, you undoubtedly know I love WWII. I was fascinated with Pearl Harbor and the events in 1941 well before the 50th Anniversary of the attack. Picking up this novel, I have started it…put it down (mostly due to classes for my undergrad and now grad work) picked up and again..put down. Well, it is done and it is amazing!

This is, undoubtedly the bible of the Pearl Harbor story. It starts with the planning from the Japanese side. What was happening in Washington and Pearl Harbor. It goes deep into the meticulous planning and the spying from the Japanese consulate and what was gathered and how.

It takes the events leading up to the attack into details that is eye opening. It even goes into the attack and just how fast and damaging it truly was. Then, it breaks down all the investigations and aftermath of attack. Finally, explains where the blame for attack truly falls.

Professor Gordon W. Prange researched and interviewed survivors from both sides for 37 years to truthfully tell this detailed narrative. Sadly, he died just shortly before it was completed. However, two of his students completed one the most well researched first hands account of the attack that has ever been published.

This is definitely in my top 10 history books list and I would highly recommend this to anyone that has an interest in history and the Pearl Harbor attack.

Grab a good coffee and happy reading!

Lopaka